The sun hung low in the sky, casting an orange glow across the grand hall of the Li family manor in Maple City. The faint scent of incense drifted through the air, mingling with the low murmurs of voices. Li Bao, or rather Ken, who now inhabited this body, sat silently in the corner, watching the heated discussion unfolding before him, absorbing every word, every nuance of the tense atmosphere.
The hall itself was moderately luxurious, as expected from a Tier 2 family. Intricately woven tapestries hung from the walls, each piece depicting the proud and storied history of the Li family—battles fought, lands won, and cultivators ascending to great heights, a legacy rich with honor and ambition. However, the present situation of the Li family was far from glorious, shrouded in shadows of uncertainty and despair.
Seated at the long, polished table were the remaining elders of the family, their expressions a mix of worry and determination. Li Jun, a stern man with sharp features and a commanding presence, leaned forward, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the wooden surface, a subtle manifestation of his agitation. He was the elder with the third-highest cultivation level, sitting firmly at the 3rd level of Qi-Condensation. His dark eyes reflected the palpable tension in the room, mirroring the gravity of their circumstances.
"We're barely holding on," Li Jun said, his voice tight, carrying the weight of the family's dire situation. "The Zhou and Peng families have already sent their elders. They're testing us, probing for weaknesses. Small skirmishes have broken out along our borders, and if we don't act soon, they'll make their move. We cannot afford to be complacent."
Li Leyue, a composed woman with sharp, intelligent eyes and an aura of authority, nodded in agreement, her demeanor reflecting both strength and the underlying anxiety of the moment. At the 5th level of Qi-Condensation, she was the second-strongest cultivator in the family now that the former family head was bedridden, unable to protect them. Her black hair was tied back in a neat braid, and her face held a calm expression, though her words betrayed the fear that gnawed at her, the fear of impending doom.
"They're not just after the Tier 1 spirit vein," she said, her voice low but clear, resonating with the truth of their plight. "They're targeting our businesses in the city. Our trading routes have been attacked multiple times this week, and the Zhou and Peng families are working together, forming an alliance against us. They're dismantling us, piece by piece, seeking to undermine our very foundations."
Li Bao remained silent, his fingers resting on the arms of his chair as he took it all in, observing the dynamic between the elders. The memories of the former Li Bao were still fresh in his mind, blending with his own thoughts, a turbulent mixture of identities. He knew that the Li family had been in a precarious position for some time now, but the betrayal from within had been the final nail in the coffin. Someone had leaked the location of the spirit vein, and now the family was under siege from all sides, surrounded by enemies eager to exploit their weaknesses.
At the far end of the table, Li Runchu, the weakest elder at the 2nd level of Qi-Condensation, spoke up, his voice trembling with unease. His face was pale, and the lines of age and worry etched deep into his skin made him seem older than his years, a testament to the burdens he had carried. "We cannot hold out much longer... We need to take decisive action. We cannot let ourselves be pushed to the brink."
"We need to do nothing rash," Li Jun interrupted, glaring at the older man, a flash of irritation in his eyes. The tension between the two was palpable, a clash of differing philosophies that could potentially splinter the already fragile unity of the elders. "We're still a Tier 2 family. We can't afford to make hasty moves. The moment we do, the Zhou and Peng families will pounce, and we will be losing."
A heavy silence followed his words, the weight of his statement hanging in the air like a dark cloud. The unspoken truth loomed over them all- without their patriarch, Li Wuhao, who had been the only one to reach the 8th level of Qi-Condensation, the Li family's power had been significantly diminished. And with Li Wuhao on his deathbed, the vultures had begun to circle, eager to feast upon the remains of what had once been a formidable family.
Li Bao could feel the weight of everyone's gaze turning toward him, the new family head. It was an uncomfortable sensation, as if all their hopes and fears were concentrated on him, a sudden shift in the dynamics of power that left him feeling exposed. He had inherited this position through circumstance, not merit, and it was clear the elders didn't fully trust him yet. Why would they? He was only at the 6th level of Qi-Condensation, and despite being stronger than the majority of the elders, he had no real experience leading a family, no battle scars to prove his worth.
The memories of the old Li Bao told him that the patriarch's sudden illness had thrown the family into disarray, and now, as the new family head, it was his responsibility to lead them through this crisis. But he couldn't even control his own racing thoughts, a chaotic storm of uncertainty swirling in his mind.
"This... this is ridiculous," Li Bao thought, suppressing the urge to laugh bitterly at the absurdity of it all. "I'm a guy who died in my old world... run over by a damn truck... and now I'm expected to lead a cultivation family to victory? This isn't how it's supposed to be. This isn't the grand adventure I dreamed of."
He remembered his old life—how he had always dreamed of transmigrating into a world of martial arts and cultivation, like the novels he used to read with rapt attention, losing himself in fantastical stories of power and glory. But those fantasies had never prepared him for the harsh reality of it. The Li family was on the verge of destruction, surrounded by enemies on all sides, and he was expected to fix everything, to pull a miracle from the ashes of despair.
As the elders continued to debate strategies and survival, their voices rising and falling like the tide, Li Bao found himself drifting into his own thoughts. He had no real plan, no idea how to turn the tide of this war. The heavy burden of leadership pressed down on him like an iron chain, heavy and suffocating.
Then, just as he was about to sink deeper into despair, it happened.
A soft chime echoed in his mind, clear and distinct, as if someone had struck a bell in the distance, resonating within him. Li Bao blinked, startled by the sound. He glanced around the room, but no one else seemed to hear it, their discussions continuing as if nothing had occurred.
"What was that?" he thought, his heart skipping a beat, a spark of curiosity igniting within him.
Before he could make sense of it, a pale blue light flashed before his eyes, drawing his attention like a moth to a flame. A translucent screen materialized in front of him, hovering in midair, a surreal sight that took his breath away. He froze, his breath catching in his throat, unable to look away. The symbols on the screen were unlike anything he had ever seen, yet somehow, he understood them perfectly, as if they spoke directly to his soul.
[Welcome, Li Bao. System Initialization Complete.]
Li Bao's eyes widened in shock, disbelief washing over him like a tidal wave of emotion.
"A... a system?" he whispered under his breath, his mind reeling with the implications. "I've got a system? My cheat... my cheat has arrived!"
His heart began to race as excitement surged through him, an electrifying thrill coursing through his veins. He couldn't believe it. This was the moment every transmigration protagonist dreamed of—their cheat ability, the one thing that could turn the tides in their favor and alter their destiny.